The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-22

Paces distant, ran the, roed toward the
canyon, now seldom II fev~ yaed, fos the
floods of the previous winass-or tvo had
been more than nsnany yiol1nt, and had
in many places cdislodged thu rooks from
even for rides. Formerly parties Of
"Prospsoeofs" OF solitary gstd seekers
had frequently pssssd THAI MY into the
reoesses Of the moantaina, which, in va
rious places along the range, were said to
bear promising Indications Of the pre-
eio0s metal. Recently, however, thew
had taken other roads or had abandoned
the quest altogether in that neighbor-
hood. -
Almost touching the great .misshapen
trunk OF the oak tree was huge bswlder,
20 followed out on its soithernaide ~ to
form recessed seat where one.eould rest
absolutely screened FROM the view of sny
who should chance to pass along the road /;
but since Stella had taught in the canyon
school she had never. while resting under
the oak, seen wayfarer pass by.
The fresh breeze rustled the foliage, the
mocking bird changed its note to one of
yet greater sweetness. The sunlight mel
lowed and the shadows grew longer.
The mountains began to put on those
magical tints which transform them from
stony gisnts-gaunt and srid-into forms
OF surpassing loveliness.
Stella had left her seat, and, turning
northward, was giving them lingering
farewell look; when-was not that the
sound of footstep-just where the road
wound past q projecting rock. A foots tep
and hurried, painting breath?
Involuntarily the girl shrank back into
her recess.
There, unless indeed the footsteps
shOuld turn aside into the shadow. she
would be absolutely unseen. The solitude
had somewhat strained her nerves; her
heart beat violently.
The footstep came neares, nearer; was
close At hand now but did not pause.
The painting breath and now a smothered
groan caught Stella's ear distinctly.
Breathing hurriedly herself, she bent
forward as the step 'assed on. She saw
a slender, roughly dressed man, travel
stained with a wallet strapped upon his
shoulder. She caught one glimpse of 3
colorless face with look Of haunted hor-
ror in it, and, before she had time to won
der, she saw why.
Footsteps again, and this time two men
following that other. Two men, or were
they fends !?
Narrow, cleaning eyes, straight black
locks falling half over brown, devilish
faces, swinging yet crouching gait,
nervous, claw like hands that swung with
halffluttering motion, as though by an
ticipation lowering over the prey, now SO
near.
And what was this One of them held
coil of rope which even now he was
shaking, poising in air, thes. with . mar
velous dexterity. finginaekward.
1t fell, and IN falling, circicd round the
body of the man before them.
Ah, merciful heaven can that be
human sound That yell of hideous tri-
umph which mingled with the choking,
despairing cry of the victim!
For one moment Stella leaned against
the tree, numb and breathless with hor-
ror-the next-sucha passion, such an
almost frenzy of righteous vengeance
seized her that her heart seemed bursting
in her bosom.
Alas she was but frail girl after all
she trembled like an aspen in the wind.
God give me strength" she gasped as
her shaking hand closed on the little
weapon-the friend whose hour had come
at last.
The man had fallen forward on his
face the Indians stood over him one
stopped to cut the wallet from his shoul-
der. They must have supposed its con-
tents of value, since even the master pas
sion, cruelty, gave way fora moment.
Then they turned him over and NUT
tered disappointedly to one another, for
the level sunbeams fell on what seemed
dead face. The weather stained hat fallen
off and disclosed broad fair forehead,
with mass of bright tangled hair.
One of the Indians seized the loose
locks with one hand, in the other dread
full knife flashed back the sunlight for an
instant as it descended on the unconscious
head.
A yell of pain and fear, wild leap into
air. The knife fell to the ground, while
the hand which held it was pierced by the
messenger ofunseen vengeance.
Selling the wallet the unwounded In
dian turned to fly, while the other, thrust
ing the mangled hand into the bosom of
his ragged coat, followed Tim, groaning
as be did 80. Another bullet whixzed past
them-yet another, q third buried itself
in the arm that grasped the wallet, and
one more struck the shoulder of the In
dian first wounded.
The wallet had dropped, while the two
rutfians, bleeding, grooming and yet run
ming for dear life, disappeared behind the
projecting rock.
Then Stella sank upon her knees and
sent up voiceless cry of thankfulness to
the Great Avenger. p
Dizzy and faint she stepped out of her
hiding place. 1t was not twenty yards
to where the man lay motionless, with
the sunlight streaming on his bronzed
cheeks and fair forehead.
Was he dead
She knelt down beside him and laid her
hand lightly on his forehead.
No, be had but swooned.
The necessity for action and the rap
turous thought that she had saved this
fellow beings life, acted like q sudden,
powerful stimulant upon the girl. She
knew of o small stream among the rocks,
quite near at hand, and, almost flying
thither, she filed her straw hat with the
water, returned and bathed with it the
unconscious face. Then she chafed the
hands-long supple hsnds, not those Of .
vagrant.
She watched with breathless anxiety,
which quite shut out all thought of self.